Destiny against Dynasty. Everything is on the line when the Cleveland Gladiators face the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XXVII on Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Can the Glads continue their magical run and become the first Arena Football League team to win 20 games in one season while delivering Cleveland's first pro title in 50 years? Or will Arizona stake its claim as the best franchise in AFL history by winning a third consecutive championship in four ArenaBowl appearances?
It was supposed to be the culmination of one of the greatest seasons ever by an Arena Football team. A win at home in ArenaBowl XXVII would have brought the city of Cleveland its first pro sports championship since the Cleveland Browns won the NFL title in 1964.
All season long, Head Coach Kevin Guy has been saying to his Arizona Rattlers that his guys aren't playing for hats and jerseys this year. They're playing for a championship. Now, the Rattlers have a chance to go to back-to-back ArenaBowls if they can beat the Utah Blaze on Saturday night.
CLEVELAND - The Arizona Rattlers have beaten the Cleveland Gladiators 72-32 to win ArenaBowl XXVII for their third straight championship. The crack staff at ArenaFan.com has amassed all of the records and factoids from the game.
When AFL Hall of Famer and Arizona Rattlers legend Sherdrick Bonner left the desert in 2007, his legacy was secure. The resume listed 14 seasons with two ArenaBowl titles, an ArenaBowl VIII MVP award, a spot among the Top 10 greatest AFL players ever and every meaningful Rattlers passing record.